Parramatta’s Kelma Tuilagi is facing a huge ban after narrowly avoiding being sent off for a dangerous throw on the Roosters’ Lindsay Collins on Saturday night.
The NRL match review committee has come down hard on the Eels second-rower, who was slapped with a four-match ban for the tackle in the opening minutes of the Roosters’ win at CommBank Stadium.
He will miss five matches if he unsuccessfully fights the grade three dangerous throw charge at the judiciary.
Tuilagi was sent to the sin bin for the offence and the Roosters quickly made a 12-man Parramatta pay as Trent Robinson’s side climbed to fifth with victory.
Tuilagi’s ban will be a blow to the Eels’ chances of surging up the ladder under interim coach Trent Barrett as they skate perilously close to the wooden spoon spot after the Tigers’ upset win over the Titans on Saturday.
There was better news for the Roosters with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves avoiding a suspension for a high shot on Shaun Lane, which was the second sin-binning of the night.
Waerea-Hargreaves will pay a $3000 fine for a grade one careless high tackle charge, while teammate Naufahu Whyte will cop a $1000 fine for a dangerous contact charge on Ryan Matterson.
Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has been offered a one-match suspension for an off-the-ball high tackle on Melbourne’s Grant Anderson after being issued a grade two careless high tackle.
He will miss two matches if he fights the charge and lose at the judiciary.